Automatic fire-sprinkler



(No M'ael.)

I l Jl i AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER.

Patented Dec. 10,- 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. HILL, OIF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-SPRINKLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,162, dated December 10, 1895.

Application filed March l2, 1895.

To @ZZ-whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. HILL, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire-Sprinklers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic fire-sprinklers; and it consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sprinkler embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation corresponding with Fig. 1, except that in Fig. 2 the device is shown in central vertical section. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section on line 3 3, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4C 4., Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Figs. 1 and 2.

My improved sprinkling device comprises a short tube or pipe A, the inner end whereof is shown screw-threaded externally, as at A', for screwing the same into a correspondinglythreaded hole of the water-supply pipe. (Not shown.) Tube orpipe A, at its opposite orV outer end, is provided with two laterally-projecting lugs or ears d that are provided with screw-threaded holes a for receiving correspondingly-threaded screws B whose heads b engage the outer sides of co-operating jaws D D that engage the outer side of and secure valve E in its closed position, said valve normally closing the outer end or dischargingopening of pipe or tube A, and a washer Gis preferably interposed between said end of the pipe or tube and valve. Jaws D D engage valve E at,diametrically-opposite points, respectively. Said jaws extend outwardly a suitable distance beyond the edge of the valve into engagement with the heads of screws B, that, together with the two engaging holes in lugs or ears a, are, of course, also located diametrically opposite each other. One of the jaws D, at its inner end, is provided with a rounded tongue or t'enon D that engages a corresponding groove or recess D2 in the inner end of the co-operating jaw. Each jaw Serial No. 541,436. (No model.)

D, at its inner end, is provided with an arm d extending outwardly in line or approximately in line with tube or pipe A. Jaws D are secured in their operative position by any suitable means that holds the outer ends of arms d together, and hence when said means is rendered inoperative the co operating jaws, by the pressure exerted upon the outer ends of the jaws by means of screws B, separate and free the valve that is immediately thereupon forced from its seat by the pressure of the water and air under said valve, thereby permitting the water to escape from tube or pipe A and impinge a sprinkler or sprayer H, by which the water is sprayed or sprinkled laterally in all directions over an area, from twenty to twenty-six feet in diameter, according to the water-pressure.

Sprayer or sprinkler H consists, preferably, of a disk provided with a centrally-located conical member h arranged in line with pipe or tube A and having its apex presented inwardly in the direction of said tube or pipe, and the aforesaid disk, at its periphery, being provided with inwardly-projecting teeth or projections h arranged at short intervals along said periphery and equal distances from the apex of the aforesaid conical member of the sprinkling or spraying device, by which construction the water, upon impinging conical member h, is sprinkled or sprayed laterally through the openings formed between teeth or proj ections 7L. The sprinkler has an outwardly-extending stem h2 that extends through a hole I in an arm I that is rigid and preferably integral with tube or pipe A, stem h2, at its outer end, having a head h3 formed thereon, which head engages the outer side of arm I.

The means employed to hold the upper ends of jaw-arms d together consists preferably of a metallic clamp or strap K that extends around the three outer sides of one arm d, as shown in Fig. 4, and past the oppositely-located outer sides of the other arm d, the portions K' of the clamp or strap that extend outwardly beyond said last-mentioned arm d diverging somewhat toward their outer or free extremities. A metallic U-shaped piece L is interposed between said diverging members of clamp or strap K, the central member of which U-shaped piece engages IOO the central outer side of the adjacent jawarm d, and the end members whereof are soldered, as at M, to members K. By the construction just described it will be observed that when a fire or solder-fusing heat occurs in the room wherein my improved automatic fire-sprinkler is employed the solder-holding members K and L together will fuse and render jaws D D inoperative, thereby permitting the valve to be automatically lifted, and resulting in the operation of the sprinkler. Diverging members K and member L, at oppositely-located edges of said members, are preferably provided with registering recesses 7a and Z, respectively, which recesses are also filled with solder, by which construction, in conjunction with the solder between opposing surfaces of members K and L, clamp or strap K is securely held in its operative position until the fusion of the solder.

Arm d, around whose three outer sides the clamp extends, preferably engages a ,shoulder cl formed upon said arm, and arm d of the other jaw (which arm engaged by the central member of U shaped piece L) is preferably provided with a shoulder or seat (Z2 for member L.

To positively avoid any objectionable or too much adhesion between the opposing surfaces of arms CZ of jaws D and between said jaws and valve G, said parts are so constructed or arranged that the jaws only engage eaeh other at their inner ends below their arms (l (l and only engage the valve at,

or near the edge of the latter.

Washer G is composed of aluminum or other substance or material that will not objectionably adhere to the opposing surfaces of the valve and pipe or tube A, so as not to obstruct the operation of said valve.

Sprayer H, it will be observed, is supportedfrom a single arm I, and said arm is made as thin as practicable, so that interference with the spray in the operation of the device shall be reduced to a minimum. l would also remark that valve E, at each jaw-engaged portion, is provided with two lugs e, engaging opposite sides, respectively, of the engaging jaw and preventing lateral displacement of the jaw.

l. In an automatic lire-sprinkler, the combination with a short-tube or pipe A, and valve E seated at and closing the outer end of said pipe or tube, of two co-operating jaws engaging the outer side of the valve, said jaws being arranged transversely of and at opposite sides, respectively, of the valve; screws engaging and bearing against the outer side of the outer ends of the jaws, and secured to the aforesaid tube or pipe, each jaw, at its inner end, having an outwardly extending arm 5 means for holding together the outer ends of said jaw-arms, said means being secured in its operative position by solder or fusible metal, and a suitably-supported sprinkler or sprayer located at the outer end of the jaw-ar1ns and in line with the aforesaid pipe or tube, substantially as set forth. u

2. In an automatic-iiire-sprinkler, the combination with pipe or tube A and valve E, of the two jaws D D having outwardly-extending arms d el, one of said jaws provided with the tongue or tenon D', and the eo-operating jaw having the groove or mortise D2; screws B B; means for holding the jaw arms together, said means being secured in its operative position by solder or fusible metal, and the suitably-supported sprinkler or sprayer Il, all arranged and operating substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

In an automatic fire-sprinkler, the combination with a tube or pipe A, and valve E seated at and closing the outer end of the pipe or tube, said valve being provided with two pairs of lugs e arranged at opposite sides, respectively, of the valve, the lugs of each pair of lugs being located a suitable distance apart, two jaws engaging the outer side of the valve between the lugs of the aforesaid pairs of lugs and extending beyond opposite sides, respectively, of the valve; means engaging and bearing against the outer side of the outer ends of the jaws, each jaw, at its inner end having an outwardly-extending arm; means for holding together the outer ends of said jaw-arms, said means being secured in its operative position by solder, and a suitably supported sprinkler or sprayer Il arranged at the outer end of the jaw-arms and in line with the aforesaid pipe or tube, substantially as set forth.

ln testimony whereof l sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 26th day of December, 1894.

' JOHN T. HILL. Vitnesses:

C. H. Donna,

L. WARD Iloovnn.

IOO 

